Thanksgiving in the two rivers offers a cornucopia of enjoyable activities for the whole family. So as the holiday season begins, why not step back from the bustle and have some home-made fun?
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Go See the Thanksgiving Day Parade
Why settle for watching it on TV when you can get there lickety-split? Seastreak will be making its annual run to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday morning.
Get the kids up early and catch the ferry from Connor’s in Highlands. Enjoy coffee and breakfast treats on board, then follow the crowd from the ferry dock on East 35th St. and find a spot along the parade route. The ferry returns to Highlands at 1 p.m. , in plenty of time for Thanksgiving dinner!
Tickets are $43 for adults and free for children 12 and under.
No reservations are required but ferry service is first come first served, so be there early!
- Talk Some Turkey
Are you in need of some turkey triage? The folks at Butterball are standing by to assist you with any fowl dilemma. Butterball’s home economists have been fielding queries about turkey quandaries for nearly 30 years now. If you have a turkey emergency, give them a call and they’ll help you get your gobbler on. Call 1-800-Butterball or email them at turkeytalkline@butterball.com. The Butterball team has been known to help with questions as far afield as how to impress the in-laws on Thanksgiving and what to prepare for international visitors attending their first American Feast.
A quick tip for beginners: Make sure you take the giblets out of the turkey before you put the stuffing in.
- Cheer For Your Hometown Team
High school football rivalries reach a fever pitch at Thanksgiving when last year’s grads are home from college and local teams take to the field for some serious play.
On Wednesday night,Shore Regional will host Point Pleasant Beach at Feeney Field on at 7 p.m..
On Thanksgiving Day,the Middletown North Lions will travel across town to take on the Middletown South Eagles on their home turf. Game time is at 10:30 am.
On Thanksgiving Day, Red Bank Regional takes on rival Long Branch on the RBR home field at 10:30 a.m.
Also on Thanksgiving Day, Mater Dei Prep heads to the Bayshore for its matchup with Keansburg at 10:30 a.m.
The main event in local football takes place on Black Friday when, Rumson-Fair Haven (10-0) and Red Bank Catholic (9-1), battle it out on Count Basie Field at 7 p.m.
- Take a Beach Walk
Autumn at the beach is what living on the shore is all about. Though swimming and sunning season is over, Sandy Hook is open for hiking, biking and birding all year-round. Or take your seashell hunt down Ocean Ave. to Sea Bright, Monmouth Beach, Deal, Allenhurst, Asbury or Ocean Grove.
- Wait for it to Come Around
Brookdale Community College’s WBJB FM 90.5 radio will continue its Thanksgiving tradition of broadcasting Arlo Guthrie’s”Alice’s Restaurant” in its entirety at noon on Thanksgiving Day. Tune in and discover what that 18 and a half minute gap in the Watergate tapes was really about. Remember, you can get anything you want at Alice’s Restaurant.
- A Feast for the Soul
Alone for Thanksgiving? Don’t settle for a lonely burger at the local fast food joint. Here’s a list of community Thanksgiving feasts in the greater two river area. Whether you help with the chores or simply lend your friendship, it’s bound to be a Thanksgiving you’ll remember.
Wednesday Nov. 23
First United Methodist Church
906 Grand Ave.
Asbury Park
5 p.m.-7 p.m.
Thursday, November 24
LunchBreak Soup Kitchen
121 Drs. James Parker Blvd.
Red Bank.
Doors open at 11:30 a.m. Dinner service begins at noon.
Salvation Army
605 Asbury Ave.
Asbury Park
11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Langosta Lounge
1000 Ocean Avenue
Asbury Park
11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Eatontown Community Center
72 Broad St.
Eatontown
1:30-4:30 p.m.
